El-P

El-P, aka El Producto, is one of hip-hop's most obstinate and adventurous pioneers, combining a lo-fi old-school aesthetic with a progressive rock musician's inclination to push boundaries. He has never succumbed to the demands of corporate rap, instead choosing to pursue his own decidedly non-commercial direction. In the mid-'90s, he developed a strong reputation with the groundbreaking trio Company Flow, a band whose achievements include El-P-produced LP Funcrusher Plus on Rawkus Records, a label considered by many one of the best for intelligent hip-hop. Over the group's auspicious stint together, he proved he was himself capable of intense lyricism as well as sonic production so powerful it could stand on its own. In the latter part of the '90s, El-P was also a collaborator with Blackalicious, Mos Def, and Dilated Peoples.

In 2001, after releasing one last album with Harlem rappers Cannibal Ox, the group chose to amicably pursue their own directions. El-P then started his own label, Def Jux -- later renamed Definitive Jux to avoid a suit from Def Jam. Between label operations and work on a proposed solo album from former Rage Against the Machine frontman Zack de la Rocha, he found the time to work on his own solo release, Fantastic Damage, which saw the light of day in May 2002. A critical masterpiece, it was followed by a real change-up, 2004's High Water, which was part of the Matthew Shipp-curated Blue Series and teamed the producer with Shipp, William Parker, and others from the fringe of jazz. Collecting the Kid, a collection of unreleased and hard-to-find tracks, appeared later that year. After nearly four years of work, El-P released his second proper production album, I'll Sleep When You're Dead, featuring contributions from the Mars Volta, Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails, and even Cat Power. In 2010, he declared Def Jux to be "on hiatus" and while the back catalog would remain in print, the lack of new releases meant El-P would have time to focus on his artistic work. The payoff came in 2012 with the release of two El-P associated full-lengths; R.A.P. Music, his collaboration with rapper Killer Mike, along with his own release, Cancer4Cure, which appeared on the Fat Possum label. The latter featured guest appearances from Danny Brown, Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, and Killer Mike. ~ Kieran McCarthy, Rovi

And at twilight we'll skip stones and laugh about your poemsBut a blood-red book when the others got funcrushed is a spotThe terror fabulously gets hotCo Flow mossieWalt Disney meets Kaiser SozeThere will be no grand comebacks unless Lazarus or KotterInflicted b**ch styles in a cave with stigmataWe're locked in a box but you can't say JackTrying to paint them f**king red doors blackLike that spilled milk spoiledWhen Bill Gates and Ted Turner rub each other down with olive oilsCompany

i. got. no. words. i'm a chef, i cook all kinds a stuff. most days, i get my a** kicked. if anything gets my stuff tasty, and customers like it, i'm happy. most of the time, i'm ready to kill. it's stressful yo. but, there's times when i'm happy, and that's when i'm basting things with herbs. el p. good stuff.

CAN U IMAGINE......how cool the world and the people in it WOULD BE if THIS WAS THE KIND OF HIP HOP that was on the radio......if THE MASSES liked this as opposed to the useless, empty, phony TRASH that is um.......popular - sad state of affairs when Lil Wayne is making more money than El Producto.....

El-P is great s**t, some of the best hip-hop out there. This is what hip-hop was supposed to be, intelligent s**t that isn't just made to be played on the radio in between 50-Cent and Kanye West(f**k Kanye by the way). This is s**t that challenges you to think about what you're listening to.

I discovered Company Flow around the turn on the millennium and my outlook on hip-hop was forever changed. EL-P is a true wonder. Through his work and production on others albums I was exposed to a ton of stuff I doubt I would have ever listened to, and I'm better off for it! Def Jux 4EVER.

Saw this guy live about a few months after I'll Sleep When You're Dead dropped. He was touring with Mr. Dibbs as his DJ.

THAT SHOW WAS INSANE. Best concert I have ever been to, and I've seen a LOT of concerts. Atmosphere has nothing on this guys live performance. And in all honesty, this guy is one of my top 3 favorite emcees of all time. The only one ahead of him is probably Aesop.

6 years ago

twentysecondbarrels

raver your a kook. this is why the "intelligent rap" label has become a bit of mundane label. "I know about blah and blah" you obviously don't though. To make such bold statements regarding black emcees is ignorance. the color barrier has been broken to a thing of the past, and I think that is one of the greatest things about "intelligent rap". but your not so intelligent raver. now go cop the new asher roth disc. i heard its good cause he's white. haha.

I know this post is crazy late...but really Raver you serious? "some of my best friends are Black" and "I don't care about skin color" then finish with "all the new Black Rappers", really? Your comments show your ignorance, hypocrisy and true racism and internalized domination syndrome. Pay attention to the ish you spewing. Try and learn from the "intelligent" rappers you listen to, but obviously are not hearing, there is a difference.

yO I KNOW ABOUT lIF AND dEL,ALL THAT S**T,I AM TALKIN ABOUT ALL THE NEW DUMB COMMERCIAL RAPPERS.I DONT CARE ABOUT SKIN COLOR.I WAS JUST BEING STUPID.ALL THE NEW BLACK RAPPERS HAVE NOTHIN TO SAY EXCEPT I GOT MONEY AND A STUPID NECKLACE AND I DRIVE A NICE CAR,THAT'S ALL.I LOVE BLACK PEOPLE,MY BEST FRIEND FOR THE PAST 21 YEARS IS BLACK.DON'T HATE CUZ ALL THE NEW S**T IS SO COMMERCIAL
AND I LOVE INTELLIGENT HIP HOP TOO.GANGSTARR IS ONE OF MY FAV'S.I WLL TELL ANY BLACK RAPPER HE SUCKS DICK IF IT SUC

It's just pure ignorance on raver boy's part. Raver boy must be poor white trash. Please remember that Vanilla Ice was a white rapper too. I would challenge raver boy to tell any black rapper that they suck d**k. See what happens. I Love El-p's music and can agree that he is making history. He would be making history if he was black too. I can base my opinion off of his music, not his unchosen family history.

obviously this last dude never heard vast aire, illogic, del, or mr lif. big ups to intelligent hip hop, the people who make it, and the people who listen to it. not to people who care about skin color.

if u dont know about this dude u probably listen to that MIMS gay a** dumb s**t!!! wake up people this is hip hop! EL-P is history in the making. Big up and max respect to White rappers.ALL YOU BLACK RAPPERS SUCK D I C K.THIS DUDE WILL RIP YO S H I T!!!!!!!!!LOL